The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-08
SELFISH HUMANITY.
Consideration for Others Not Found Among
the Rich and Leisure Glasses.

the Rich and Leisure Glasses.
New York Graphic.
What curious quality in human nature is it
that makes people stingy where they possess
most and generous where it costs them mostl
The habitual speech aud opinion of observing
people sustains the idea that mankind generally
do give and withhold just this principal of
contrariety. The other day a scrub-woman in
big downtown office building picked up an
envelope from the floor in one of the rooms she
was cleaning which con tanned $500; she took it
straightway to the janitor to be returned to the
owners OF the office on their appearance next
morning. She is poor, even beyond the poverty
usual to her class; she left widow few
months ago with three little children. and she
is supporting them all on the So week she gets
chore-woman in this building. The janitor
said when she handed him the money. why,
/ wonder, couldn't you have had the luck
TO find this in some Office where they are not so
blank rich these people; they'll not give you
ten dollars and II ,t had happened with some OF
these young fellows just starting they'd
have turned you over fifty" The sequel
bore out the janitor's opinions, and
bore them good deal further; he took
return the money, and he stretched the license
of his position to say, Now you owe it to this
woman that you've got that money at all, and you
ought to do something handsome by her."
"Well-yes-wel,' began ono partner of the
firm, an SEQ Mr.. So-and SO about it; yes-well
shed better come up this time tomorrow"
The next day the woman came and with her the
sturdy janitor's wife; the millionaire directed n
clerk to hand her 81. Never mind. Mr. o-and-
So" said the JaDitorS Vile, my husband told
me to tell you If you couldn't afford to reward
her. he could, having saved him and
everybody about the building from trouble
and annoyance here's S5 for her and the
engineer and the elevator will give her
So more" and with a triumphant mien the
ianitor's wife marched out with her scared little
scrub woman in front of her. ''rd have done it
if we lost our place next day." said She But
the painful part of the story is that everybody
who knows him believes the millionaire gladly
pocketed his So and rejoicsd to get off for
nothing. In the same line of phenomena is the
experience OF English Bishop Moorhouse who,
in a recent talk on charitable work, exclaimed
with scorn, Leisure class, leisure class indeed
When l was in Paddington I was surrounded by
the leisure classes. and they never helped us II
bit. If you want work done you must go to a
man who has not quarter of hour to spare
and he will find time and do while your gentle
physician said recently. Il wish never had any
patients but busy people, they are so much more
tolerant of delays. and postponements. and inter
ferences, much more in the habit of recogniz-
ing that other people have rights well
themselves than are luxurious do nothipgs; of
course. here the do nothings chiefly women,
and lot of trouble they make me- They don't
want to wait their turn If they office pa
tients; if am kept away fifteen minutes when
they are waiting to keep appointment with
me- thing that must often happen with ply
sician they get mad and go away, though far
as anything they do in this world they might as